India pacer T Natarajan, who made his Test debut in Brisbane against Australia last year, spoke on the famous victory at the Gabba. Team India had defeated Australia by 3 wickets on January 19, 2021 to secure the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2-1.
Nataraja had travelled with the squad as a net bowler but he got an opportunity after the team lost their key players due to injury. Speedster Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, spinner R Ashwin, and all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja, they all were unavailable for the final Test match.
Taking on Australia at their fortress, Gabba, India's second-string side didn't disappoint and gave them a tough fight. Eventually, the visitors clinched a historic win and breached the fortress by chasing down 328 runs on the final day of the Test match.
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Natarajan, in a chat with Sportstar, recalled his first call-up for Team India and making debut in all three formats on the Australia tour. "It was a dream to play for India but it was unimaginable that I'll make my debut across all formats. When we went to Australia, I thought maybe I may play the T20s, but I made my debut in the third one-day before the T20s," he said.
The 30-year-old said he wasn't expecting to make India debut in the Test series even when players from the squad got ruled out due to injury. “But even then, I did not think I had a chance to play because there were other senior players like Shardul Thakur in the side,” he added.
Natarajan was informed that he is going to feature in the side on the morning of the Brisbane Test after Bumrah had a niggle. “I could not believe it when I was told I would play. I was excited but also extremely nervous,” he recalled.
“For the first two overs, I was a bit nervous and sprayed a bit here and there. (Captain Ajinkya) Rahane then spoke and calmed me down. After that, I was able to bowl a consistent line and keep things tight. I could have been better prepared mentally if I knew about my debut earlier.
“I struggled especially when bowling over the wicket, as there was a bit of slope at one end. Once I came around the wicket, I was able to get into my rhythm,” he said.
Natarajan had picked up three wickets in the first innings; dismissing Matthew Wade, Marnus Labuschagne, and Josh Hazlewood. “I could have had Labuschagne earlier, but an edge dropped just in front of first slip. But I felt really good after getting those two crucial wickets.”
The speedster was a bit worried about facing Australia pacer Mitchell Starc while batting and the whole team was praying for no more injuries. “I had to face one over from Starc and every delivery was close to 150 kph. The whole team was nervous and praying that I should come back without any injury. They were so happy and relieved when I came back, not out. I barely could see the first two deliveries,” said Natarajan.
It was expected that India would look for a draw, but the young side went for a win and achieved it successfully on the fifth day at the Gabba. Shubman Gill had scored 91 runs while Rishabh Pant played a match-winning knock of 89* runs.
Cheteshwar Pujara had taken multiple blows and he eventually got out on 56 runs in the second innings. “The way Pujara, (Shubman) Gill and then Washi (Washington Sundar) played, I was confident we will get there easily. (Rishabh) Pant played a gutsy knock and I have never been part of such a thrilling chase even in first-class cricket. It was an unbelievable experience — a thriller for the ages.”
“For the first three or four months it felt like a dream that I played in all three formats. To win a Test series abroad in Australia is always special and that too in my first match. But at that time, I did not realise the enormity of the occasion. Only when I came back and saw the support I received at home, I understood how big a deal it was," said Natarajan on the historic win.
(Inputs from Sportstar)
